Flowpack Systems, Southern African distributor and agents of Elifab Solutions, earlier this year installed the first Elifab blueberry sorter with Ellips True-AI of its kind in the country's North West Province. "The main difference with the True-AI is that it can recognise the calyx and the stem with 100% accuracy," explains Rory Cole. Sometimes rust on the remnants of petals in the calyx can be misidentified as defects on the body, actually taking out good fruit from class one.
"The old system is pretty good at detecting the calyx, but not a hundred percent. Now with the True-AI and the increased quality of the data, if that berry turns, it will recognise the calyx a hundred percent of the time".
© Flowpack Manufactured in Spain by Elifab Solutions
Effortless handling of variety changes
"When our team at Handvol Boerdery had the Elifab 2-lane sorting machine installed in August 2025," says Cat Squire, Handvol's production manager, "we expected an upgrade in efficiency. What we didn't expect was how quickly it would transform the entire rhythm of our packhouse."
From the get-go, they noticed how precisely the system performed. "The production readings were remarkably accurate, giving us a clear picture of pack-out and grade distribution in real time.
One of the biggest surprises was how effortlessly the Elifab handled variety changes. Switching between different cultivars, berry sizes, and quality settings happens smoothly, without the need for long recalibrations or technical delays," she says.
It is the depth of annotation that Ellips added over the course of years to its giant bank of images, gathered from 3500 packhouses where it's in operation globally, that stands out, Cole remarks, and has allowed a specific algorithm to be developed for fruits and vegetables, including apples, citrus, cherries, blueberries, onions, and so forth.
AI cuts labour requirements
The management at the Handvol Boerdery packhouse singled out the Ellips True-AI defect detection as a standout feature. It identifies and separates various types of defects: internal softness, shriveled berries (which are close to impossible to detect with the human eye and a recurring problem in South African blueberry packhouses), dry scars and rain-related splits, picking scars and immature (red) berries, and lastly, fruit discoloration and mould.
"This accuracy has allowed us to maintain export-level standards even with mixed-quality batches or end-of-season fruit. Even with smaller or lower-quality fruit toward the end of the season, the 2-lane system comfortably processes 370 to 400 kg of berries per hour. The reduction in manual sorting has been dramatic - we've managed to cut our labour requirement by nearly half without sacrificing quality."
© Flowpack
Another highlight, she continues, is the gentle handling. The small drop distances and soft sorting at the exits minimize bruising, which is a critical factor for preserving the quality, bloom, and shelf life of premium blueberries.
160 degrees of soft detection
"We can detect 160 degrees of softness with our three camera sensors, including multispectral imaging. "The cutoff point on a sea freight blueberry's soft level is normally around 75 on a Durafel reading. We correlate this with our index to make sure that the berry will last the trip, if you're doing seafreight."
Whatever doesn't make that cut can still be sent by air, and that's critical when Peru comes in with its volumes and airfreight becomes unaffordable. "It's critical that you have that capacity to send sea freight and be confident that the fruit will arrive in good condition."
"Once the programme is set, you can walk away confident"
Cat remarks that operating the Elifab Berry Class is surprisingly straightforward. "Within a few days, our team was running the system confidently and efficiently. One thing we quickly learned was that this machine rewards cleanliness. When kept clean, its sizing precision, colour consistency, and defect detection remain spot-on. "
She particularly likes the built-in roller steamer because it's fully self-cleaning. "Just start the cycle, step away, and within 20 minutes the rollers are clean and ready for the next run. This small detail saves time and keeps roller maintenance effortless."
© Flowpack"We didn't expect how quickly it would transform the entire rhythm of our packhouse."
The True-AI system maintains accuracy even when market requirements shift and specific grades are in demand. Once the programme is set, you can walk away confident that the results will stay consistent from start to finish, she says.
"For any packhouse looking to modernize its blueberry line, the Elifab Berry Class, driven by Ellips True-AI, delivers an impressive balance of accuracy, efficiency, and gentle handling. Its ability to adapt between varieties, maintain consistent quality, and reduce labour costs makes it a valuable investment for blueberry packhouse operations. At Handvol Boerdery," Cat observes, "it has become the heart of our packhouse - reliable, intelligent, and a true partner in delivering top-quality fruit."
For more information:
Rory Cole
Flowpack
Tel: +27 (0) 82 294 2260
Email: [email protected]
https://flowpack.co.za/
